LPG crunch hits food industry as restaurants scramble to cook up alternatives

As commercial LPG supplies run thin, kitchens across the city are turning down the flame. Restaurants are trimming menus, cutting operating hours and scrambling for alternatives as the shortage — reportedly linked to global supply disruptions amid the US– Israel–Iran conflict — begins to simmer into a full-blown crisis for the hospitality sector.

PLAN B IN THE KITCHENMany hotels in Chennai are quietly adapting. Raji Benny, general manager of Fortel, says, “We aren’t planning on shutting down for now, but are reducing LPG usage by moving to induction cooktops and firewood-based stoves.”

V Vishnu Shankar, director, Adyar Ananda Bhavan, says, “We have begun optimising our electric kitchens for bulk cooking. To conserve LPG and maintain service continuity, we have temporarily paused certain North Indian menu items and streamlined our offerings. We have also reduced operational timings in specific sections, like dosai service.”

Metros most affectedThe crisis is most acute in Tier-1 urban hubs, where the hospitality sector is heavily dependent on daily deliveries.

Delhi and Kolkata: Commercial supplies have reportedly dried up as agencies prioritise domestic refills. In Delhi, some agencies that typically sell 300 commercial units daily have reported zero sales in recent days.

Mumbai: Approximately 20% of hotels and restaurants have already closed temporarily. Industry bodies like the Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) warn that up to 50% could shut down within the next 48 hours.

Bengaluru: Hotels say distributors have stopped supplying commercial cylinders. Establishments are reducing menu items or cutting operating hours.

Caterers feel the heatThe general secretary of Tamil Nadu Samayal Kalai Thozhilalar Munnetra Sangam, M Eniyavan, says caterers are struggling to balance rising costs with supply uncertainty. “A wedding caterer needs at least seven to eight cylinders per order. Our business relies on serving food hot. This price hike and shortage have made things worse for us,” he says. Because catering orders are booked in advance, adjusting prices midstream is not an option, he adds.

No coffee, no dosai in PGs!The Tamilnadu IT Hostel & PG Owners Welfare Association has sent out a circular announcing that their members have decided to suspend serving coffee, tea, dosai , chapathi , sambar , kurma , among others until the situation improves. The association also shared that it is further looking into alternative methods to minimise gas usage.

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